Global Express | Sep 2, 2026 Germany Accuses Russia of Drone Attack on Leipzig Airport

1. Germany Accuses Russia of Drone Attack on Leipzig Airport

Source: Al Jazeera

Germany on Tuesday formally accused Russia of being behind an attempted drone attack on Leipzig-Halle airport last month, summoning Moscow's ambassador and ordering the closure of two Russian institutions in response. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack took place on August 4 and used a drone laden with explosives, adding that investigators had proof the agents controlling the drone worked on behalf of Russian state entities. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul announced the closure of Russia's consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin, while seeking additional EU sanctions. Russia rejected the accusation, with President Vladimir Putin suggesting Berlin had "fabricated" the evidence. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the "evidence is clear," as European leaders voiced support for Berlin.

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2. Putin Denies Mobilization Reports, Orders Strikes on Ukraine's Energy Sector

Source: The Kyiv Independent

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 1 dismissed reports of a possible new wave of mobilization as "absolute nonsense," calling them an "information attack on Russia" during a press conference following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Putin also said he had instructed the Russian military to prepare "massive strikes" against Ukraine's energy facilities, framing them as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power grid since its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier warned Moscow could resort to another mobilization drive.

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3. Joshua Wong Admits Instigating Sanctions Against Beijing and Hong Kong Governments

Source: South China Morning Post

Hong Kong's High Court heard Wednesday that jailed opposition activist Joshua Wong, 29, has admitted instigating international sanctions against the central and Hong Kong governments six years ago, including urging foreign firms to avoid investing in mainland China and petitioning an Israeli forensic tech firm to end its services to the city's police. Wong pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, accused of conspiring with fugitive ex-lawmaker Nathan Law to press Beijing to repeal the national security law. Already serving four years and eight months for conspiring to subvert state power, Wong now faces additional jail time. Defence lawyers suggested a four-and-a-half-year sentence in the latest case.

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4. Israel Bars U.S. Citizens Over Criticism and Palestinian Ties, Lawyers Say

Source: NPR

U.S. and other international travellers are increasingly being denied entry to Israel following interrogations about their connections to Palestinians and their opinions of Israel, their lawyers say. In August, Israel denied entry to a group of U.S. and other international comedians invited to a Palestinian comedy festival, as well as a U.S. multifaith delegation. Israeli lawyers say entry denials have risen sharply over the past year for reasons that previously did not warrant refusal. Israel's Interior Ministry said it was unaware of an entry-ban phenomenon, noting it has denied more than 21,000 electronic travel authorization requests since 2025. The U.S. State Department defended the denials as consistent with Israeli law.

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5. U.S. 10-Year Yield Hits More Than Two-Year High, Stock Futures Fall

Source: CNBC

Stock futures moved lower Wednesday as bond yields kept climbing, with traders worried about the impact of rising oil prices on inflation. Dow futures dipped 66 points, S&P 500 futures lost 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.6%. The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.814%, a level not seen since November 2023. West Texas Intermediate oil traded above $90 a barrel, its highest since late July, as the U.S. launched more strikes on Iran. "Higher yields are proving to be the stock market's undoing," said Macquarie strategist Thierry Wizman. Asian markets fell broadly, with Japan's Nikkei 225 closing 2.85% lower.

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6. Apple's New CEO Scores $58 Million Pay Package as Tim Cook Steps Aside

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Apple's new CEO John Ternus officially took over Tuesday, receiving a $3 million salary plus annual equity awards valued at $55 million, along with a one-time $2.5 million restricted stock unit grant, according to an SEC filing. Former CEO Tim Cook, now executive chair, will still receive a $2 million salary and a $45 million equity award. Ternus takes over at a critical moment as Apple navigates a mature smartphone market, the explosive growth of AI, and its growing entertainment business including Apple TV and Apple Music.

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7. Some Missing Tourists Make Contact as Nepal Flood Death Toll Tops 1,100

Source: AP News

Tourists previously reported missing in Nepal have made contact with authorities, officials said Wednesday. Nepal's Foreign Ministry said 324 foreign nationals have been rescued, while 590 from 39 countries remain missing. The Aug. 26 floods killed at least 1,118 people and left more than 3,900 missing. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the number of Australians missing had fallen from 43 to 38 after five were confirmed safe. The disaster is thought to have been triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, and such events are becoming more frequent as climate change warms the region.

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8. Two Turkish Cargo Ships Collide in the Sea of Marmara, 10 Crew Missing

Source: Xinhua

Turkey's maritime authority said Tuesday that two Turkish-flagged cargo ships collided in the northwestern Sea of Marmara in the early hours, with one vessel believed to have sunk and 10 crew members missing. The authority said an empty oil tanker collided with a cargo ship carrying about 4,200 tonnes of steel coils off Silivri at around 3 a.m. local time, triggering a search-and-rescue operation. Rescuers found the ship's life-saving equipment at sea but no crew, and the search continues.

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9. Blue Origin Wins NASA Contract to Develop Mars Communications Network

Source: Xinhua

NASA said Monday it has awarded Blue Origin a contract to develop a Mars communications network to provide reliable high-bandwidth communications and navigation services for current and future Mars missions. The fixed-price contract has a maximum potential value of about $700 million. Blue Origin will design, develop, integrate, launch and operate the network, delivering a high-performance Mars communications orbiter by the end of 2028, with the network expected to enter service by 2030.

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10. China Regrets G20 Finance Ministers' Failure to Issue Communique

Source: Sina Finance

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Tuesday that China deeply regrets the failure of the second G20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting to issue a communique. Guo said China attaches great importance to the G20's role as the main forum for international economic cooperation and has actively participated in discussions since the U.S. assumed the 2026 G20 presidency. China expects the U.S., as the rotating chair, to fully respect the reasonable concerns of all parties and push for positive outcomes at the 2026 Miami summit, Guo added.

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